There are still a few days left in November to put together a handmade "countdown calendar" or advent calendar for your home. We have seen some very cute ideas on different galleries and blogs, but so many are very complicated to complete. This adorable countdown calendar by Samantha Sibbet is sweet and simple that you could finish it up in an evening.
The tree base is from KaiserCraft. (We had a tough time finding any of these available online to share a link, so if anyone knows of a retail store that may have them in stock, please share the name!) Samantha used paper from My Mind's Eye and the Soda Pop Alpha and Small Banner Stamp Sets to decorate the tree.
Sam drew an outline of the tree onto the patterned paper and used a craft knife to cut the tree shape. She then hand stitched the edge of the paper before adhering it to the front of the tree. The base of the tree was painted white.
Each number was decorated in a similar way with stitched papers and some glittered chipboard numbers. Sam even added a little envelope to the back of the tree to store the numbers that are not in use on that day.
If you have created a countdown or advent calendar to use this season, be sure to share a link in the comments. We'd love to see what you have made.


This is fantastic Samantha! Great idea and seems easy enough for me complete. i love it!
Posted by: kristie larsen | November 23, 2009 at 06:00 AM
What a fabulous idea--beautiful work, Samantha!!! All the details are just perfect! Thanks for sharing this!
Posted by: Julie Campbell | November 23, 2009 at 06:06 AM
Darling idea! There are a couple of the Kaiser Craft MDF trees available on HSN.com, but not the exact one represented here in your project. The first one is here: http://crafts-sewing.hsn.com/kaisercraft-beyond-the-page-mdf-3-d-christmas-pine-tree_p-5767393_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=5767393&sf=ct&attr=7046&ocm=CT|7046&prev=hp!7046!sf&ccm=CT|7046
Here's another one: http://crafts-sewing.hsn.com/kaiserkraft-beyond-the-page-mdf-tree-card-holder-with-wood-flourishes_p-5827682_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=5827682&sf=ct&attr=7046&ocm=CT|7046&prev=hp!7046!sf&ccm=CT|7046
This would work for an advent calendar, too: http://crafts-sewing.hsn.com/kaisercraft-beyond-the-page-mdf-flourish-desk-calendar_p-5767145_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=5767145&sf=ct&attr=7046&ocm=CT|7046&prev=hp!7046!sf&ccm=CT|7046
Hope this helps!
Posted by: Karolyn Loncon | November 23, 2009 at 08:16 AM